come new year's eve when we count down to midnight, we're counting down to the so-called fiscal cliff. if congress does nothing, taxes go up on everyone. mike emmanuel has more. >> reporter: lawmake -- lawmakers return to capitol hill in a last-minute attempt going over the fiscal cliff. congressional leaders are looking to avoid tax hikes on most americans but key disagreements on eptitlesments and tax rate thresh finds remain. president obama's original plan called for increasing taxes on families earning more than $250,000 now $400,000 could be a number on the negotiating table. >> the $400,000 level seems to me to be with about right. that represents about the top 1% of income earners in the country and is they got knee% of the growth and there is some flexibility there. >> reporter: the republicans say the u.s. is not facing's revenue problem. >> i feel like i'm a lifeguard and we have to save as many people from drowning and higher taxes as we can. >> reporter: in the weekly address to the nation, president obama urged congress to do something. >> we can't afford a politically s